The Massive Way The World Is Sticking It To The Avengers In Captain America: Civil War

The real world is already a dangerous place, but in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, superheroes and supervillains running around take things to the next level. Moviegoers have watched as the Avengers, both on their own and together, have protected humanity, but their adventures haven’t been without consequences. All this is coming to a head next year in Captain America: Civil War, when, as seen in the trailer earlier this week, it will be decided that these heroes can’t operate without supervision anymore. Now we have a better idea of how the world is striking back at them through a hefty doctrine called the Sokovia Accords.

Reiterating previous comments about how the Accords will be different from the Superhero Registration Act from the original 2006 storyline, one-half of the Captain America: Civil War directing team Joe Russo explained to Empire how the Accords are the world’s way of governing the Avengers. Russo said:

It has to do with the effects of Ultron and Sokovia [the small city that Ultron tried to drop on the Earth from a great height at the end of Age Of Ultron], and New York City [roundly trashed at the end of The Avengers], and Washington D.C. [nearly devastated by falling helicarriers at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier]. Examining the third acts of all the Marvel movies, we’re saying, if you could point to the collateral damage in all those incidents, could you use that against the Avengers to control them?

Obviously Earth’s Mightiest Heroes aren’t responsible for the attacks mentioned above. Those are due to a megalomaniacal robot set on wiping out humanity, the trickster god from Asgard and a terrorist organization named after a certain mythological creature. That said, many suffered during those events, and in their aftermaths, some hold the Avengers responsible for the collateral damage incurred. Frankly, I would have also thrown in the destruction unleashed during Hulk and Iron Man’s fight in Africa in Avengers: Age of Ultron. That certainly didn’t paint the Avengers in a good light on the news. Using these events as leverage, the world’s governing bodies will draft the Accords so they can regulate the superheroes as they see fit.

Just like in the original story, Captain America: Civil War will see its heroes taking opposite sides on this debate, Tony Stark leading the pro-Accords forces and Steve Rogers leading those who are against politics getting up in their business. Throw in new heroes Black Panther and Spider-Man, and this "disagreement" will culminate in both teams battling each other, and the status quo in the MCU will never be the same.